Amusement device



March 11, 1930. M. MCLENNAN 1,749,918.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwuentoz Patented Mar. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE MAJOR MGLENNAN, OF MGCAMEY, TEXAS AMUSEMENT nEvIoE Application filed October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,638.

This invention relates to an improvement in amusement devices ofthe type employed for playgrounds. It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and substantial the deviceto rotate about a central axis.

The above and other objects which may become apparent as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts which will now be described in detail, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44, Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66, Fig. 2.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 represents a vertical support or mast which is provided with a base 2 having a flange 3 that is adapted to be secured to a floor or other support by means of bolts 4. This mast is held in vertical position and is preferably constructed from a piece of pipe or other tubular member. Secured to the upper end of the mast is a thrust bearing. This bearing is provided with a plug 5, which extends into the opening in thefmast and has an integral circular flange 6 which is provided on its upper surface with an annular groove 7 for the reception of balls 8. A central. plug 9 extends upwardly and is provided with a threaded portion 10 with which a nut 11 is connected. A circular disk 12 having a central opening for the reception of plug 9 and having its lower surface provided with a groove forthe reception of the balls 8, serves as the movable part of the thrust bearing.

Supported on the upper surface of member 12 is a plate 13 having a plurality of radially extending arms 14 which are inclined downwardly and which are perforated for the reception of the clamping bolts 15, by means of which the upper ends of the supporting bars 16 are secured in place. A plurality of radially extending arms 17, which may be made from wood or metal, extend radially from the mast 1 and have their inner ends connected to the radialv arms 18 of plates 19. These plates are provided with a central opening through which the mast 1 extends and are secured to opposite sides of arms 17 by means of bolts 20. The brace rod 16 is secured to the outer ends of arms 17 by means of bolts 21. It is now apparent that the arms can be rotated about the mast and that they will be able to support considerable weights at their ends due to the action of the supporting or brace rod 16. Secured to the outer ends of the arms are seats 22. These seats are provided with foot rests 23 and straps 24, the latter serving to prevent the child from accidentally falling out during the operation of the device. Secured to the mast so as to be held against rotation thereon is a ratchet wheel 25, whose outer periphery is provided with inclined teeth 26. This wheel'is located above the plane of the arms 17 and may be secured to the mast in any suitable manner. A lever 27 has one end provided with an opening 28 of the proper size to receive the mast 1. Secured to the under side of lever 27 is a brace 29. One end of this brace is offset so as to be spaced some distance below the plane of lever 27 andjhasan opening 30 through which the mast 1 extends. A spacing block 31 is located between the lever and the brace in the mannershown in Fig. 4. This block is provided witha pawl 32 which is slidable in an opening in the block and this pawl is acted upon by a spring 33, which is under tension and exerts a force tending to move the pawl against the ratchetteeth. From Fig. 3 it will be seen that lever 27 can be moved in a counterclockwise direction, but that it will be held against movement in the opposite direction. Secured to one of the seats by means of a pivot 34 is a second lever 35. One end of this lever extends across the seat to which it is pivotally connected and the other end is connected to thefree end of lever 27 by means of a link 36. This link is pivotally connected with 1 the adjacent ends of the two levers in the manner shown in Fig. 3. It is now apparent that when the end of lever which projects across the seat is moved in the direction of the arrow, that it will move lever 27 in a counterclockwise direction, therebyicausing the pawl 32 to slide over the ratchet teeth in a manner quite apparent from Fig. 3. If the end, of lever 35, which, extends over the seat is now pulled inwardly towards the seat, the force thus exerted on the pivot34: will cause the arms 17 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The operator by oscillating handle 35 somewhat in the manner of an oar can rotate the arm 17 at a high rate of speed and will thus furnish the power for operating the device. It will be seen from the drawing that the seat to which lever 35 is pivoted faces in the opposite direction from the other seat as this makes a moreconvenient arrangement.

In Fig. 5 I have shown one'way of pivoting the arm 35 to the seat 22 and in this embodiment the plate 36 is secured to the arm of the seat by means of rivets 37. A brace 38 eX- tends to the upper side of lever 35 and the pivot pin 34 passes through an opening in the plate, in'the brace 38 and in the lever 35.

From the above description it will be apparcut that I have producedan amusement. de

vice of a simple construction that can be operated by hand and which is so designed that it can be cheaply made and installed with a small amount of labor. v Having described the invention what is claimed as new is: g

A hand operated amusement device comprising, in, combination, a vertical mast, a thrust bearing: secured to the'upper end of said mast, a plurality of radially extending arms rotatably connected with the mast, a supporting rod extending from the free end of each to the thrust bearing, a seat secured tothe outer end of each arm, a ratchet wheel nonrotatably secured to themast, alever'lhaving oneend rotatably connected with the mast, abracemember having one end 0011- nected with the lever and the other end rotatably connected with the mast, a spacer block 7 located betweenthelever 'and'the brace, said block having an opening, a pawl reciprocable in said opening, a spring means associated with the pawl ratchet, asecond lever mounted foroscillation about a pivot located adjacent thefree end of'one of the arms, one end of said second lever extendingover the seat anda link 1 connecting the other end of the second lever with the free end 01 thefirst lever. 1 In testimony whereof I affix my signature. Y OR MOLENNAN.

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